Two city officials question salary study

August 14, 2008|By Jackie Burke Grumish, jburke@aberdeennews.com

At least two city officials think there might be a mistake in the city's salary study. Police chief Don Lanpher Jr. and Brett Bill, planning and zoning director, met with the council during a Wednesday work session to discuss the upper-level positions within their departments - positions they say are still underpaid. The results of last year's city-ordered salary study gave most city employees a raise ranging from 4 percent to 7.3 percent this year. Mayor Mike Levsen has said some raises were closer to 10 percent. Lanpher said in his research throughout the state he found that Aberdeen's captains rank seventh when they're compared to other cities including Brookings, Watertown and Spearfish. The chief's position ranks eighth behind Mitchell, Spearfish, Watertown and Yankton, he said. Bill said he's found similar problems with his position. Bill's biggest problem is that there aren't many positions in the state similar to his - he's the city's planning and zoning director, health officer, building inspection director and code enforcement director, he said. "That's where I feel that a mistake was made," he said. "If I was compared to city planners and that's all I was, great. I wouldn't be here." One of Lanpher's big questions is how Condrey, the company hired to do the city's salary study, arrived at its results. Condrey also did salary studies for Minnehaha County, Pierre, Rapid City and Spearfish, he said. "I find it hard to believe and even swallow that Condrey would pick Pierre and Spearfish and put them above us with our increased responsibilities," he said. Councilman Lloyd Hodgin said he'd like more information from Condrey including how it compared Aberdeen's employees to other cities. There was more to compare than job descriptions - duties, years in the position and experience all played a factor also, Levsen said. "But what evidence do we have that they did this?" Hodgin asked. "All we have is what our employees and department heads are putting in front of us." Even if experience were considered, that's open to interpretation, Lanpher and Bill said. For example, Bill has been with the city for a total of 11 years. He worked for the city for six years before leaving for a year and a half. He returned to Aberdeen five years ago. Lanpher was hired in 2004, but brought 25-plus years experience with him, he said. "I'm just asking to bring these positions up to speed with the rest of the state," Lanpher said about the three police positions. Hodgin said he'd like to contact Condrey, present them with Bill and Lanpher's findings and ask them to rationalize the results they gave the city. Levsen said he stands behind the salary study findings. "We decided we didn't want to do this anymore," he said. "That's why we hired Condrey - so they could make this decision. If we wanted to adjust these requests individually, why did we hire Condrey?" He said if the city approves any salary adjustments it will open the door to requests from other departments. The City Council will vote on the first reading of the $55 million 2009 city budget on Aug. 25.